Galleries and Fairs

I am very saddened by how the business of operating a professional art gallery has changed over the past few years.  The news that Amazon has entered into the art market sends shivers up my spine.  I am equally concerned about the growth of Internet art-selling sites. The offerings on eBay are driving me crazy.

I came into the art field 30 years ago, when operating a fine art gallery was a labor of love––and it still is for me. In early days, it was all about connoisseurship, sharing knowledge and establishing personal relationships.  In the 1970s and 1980s, the great gallery owner Harry Lunn held court in his tiny Washington, DC gallery, where potential collectors and clients clung to his every word and benefited from his advice on what to purchase.  That simply does not happen in today’s world, when a “consumer,” not a “collector” is making purchases––sight unseen––over the Internet.

The NYTimes August 22, 2013 article, “For Art Dealers, a New Life on the Fair Circuit,” is just one more confirmation that the nature of the traditional art gallery, which was a very fabric of my soul, is fast disappearing.  The proliferation of international art fairs is pulling potential collectors away from the elegant gallery exhibit spaces into the shopping malls of the vast art fairs.

That said, I am organizing the Second DC Fine Art Photography Fair for October 4-6, 2013.  The DC Photography Fair will feature 18 of the best fine art photography dealers from across the country.  The concept is to have an intimate Art Fair, which offers an opportunity for established and new collectors to meet with photography gallery experts, develop a rapport, and benefit from the gallery’s experience and knowledge.

I would like to encourage anyone interested in fine art photography to make a connection with one or more of these exhibitors and develop a professional collecting relationship.

Find out more about the DC Fine Art Photography Fair: www.dcfineartphotography.com.

“Cartoons and photography” –who would have thought?

With little or no fanfare, at least to my knowledge, the Library of Congress has mounted a fascinating little exhibition: “Down to Earth: Herblock and Photographers Observe the Environment.”  Co-curated by Carol Johnson and Sara Duke, the exhibit is housed in the Graphic Arts Galleries on the ground level of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street, S.E., Washington, DC, and is on view through March 23, 2013.

The exhibition features 15 Herblock cartoons and 17 photographs, including an image by Alex S. MacLean, one of the Kathleen Ewing Gallery’s featured photographers.  Alex is in good company, along with notable photographers such as Ansel Adams, Terry Evans, Frank Golhke, John Pfahl and Edward Burtynsky, among others.

Why cartoons and photography?  According to the Library of Congress’ press release, “Although the visual techniques used in photography and cartooning differ, both types of media can address such themes as the spread of toxins, water pollution, the negative effects of oil drilling, global warming, deforestation, exploitation of wetlands and overconsumption.”   The curators also say, “The cartoons and photographs on display are compelling compositions because their creators intended to provoke and inspire change.”

The concept of provoking and inspiring change is a consistent theme in Alex S. MacLean’s enormous body of work.  As an aerial photographer, flying above and close to the earth, MacLean is able to capture scenes us mortals would never see.  MacLean has to his credit numerous publications, most of which deal with troublesome environmental issues.  There are, however, many Alex MacLean images which convey peaceful landscapes full of bucolic shapes, patterns and colors.  One of my favorites is “Sheep Field south of Pienza, Italy,” pictured above.

I have to admit I have not actually visited this exhibition, but plan to soon.  For a preview, go to www.myloc.gov/Exhibitions/herblock-down-to-earth/ and enjoy. To see the Alex MacLean image featured here, or others, let me know and we’ll set up a time to look at his portfolio.

DC Fine Art Photography

The “First” DC Fine Art Photography Fair (October 5-7, 2012) was enthusiastically received by the local art community and beyond. The weekend saw a steady stream of visitors, coming from as far away as Wisconsin, Arizona, and California, with a fantastic melding of museum directors & curators, established collectors and the “new generation” of collectors who came to educate their eyes and learn about the wonderful world of fine art photography.

Plans are in the works for the Second Annual DC Fine Art Photography Fair in the Fall of 2013. It will take some time to confirm dates and venue. So, in the meantime……

To keep the momentum going and to encourage an on-going dialogue within the photographic community, my team and I have decided to leap into the 21^st century and start a BLOG. I must admit I’m not sure what a “blog” is or what it does, but I’m willing to give it a shot. Allen Appel will be the administrator of the blog.

Here’s the concept: At least twice a month, the DC Fine Art Photography Blog will list photography exhibits and events. We will invite local photographers/writers to submit articles & short reviews. We will post new images on the blog. And we will encourage our readers to share the Blog with their friends and colleagues. Could be fun and entertaining.

Let me know your thoughts and look forward to your comments.

Best to all, Kathleen Ewing